Tevas says FDA approves generic Zocor tablets

KatherineHunt

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
TEVA, +2.27%
on Friday said the Food and Drug Administration has granted final approval to market its generic version of Merck & Co.'s
MRK, -0.07%
cholesterol-lowering drug, Zocor, in 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg tablets. Shipment of the products has begun, the Israeli pharmaceutical company said. As the first company to file an abbreviated new drug application containing a paragraph IV certification for these strengths, Teva has been awarded 180 days of marketing exclusivity, the company said. Earlier today, a court denied a request by Novartis AG
NVS, -0.34%
to block Teva's generic version of the drug. Novartis' generic unit, Sandoz Inc., is seeking approval of its own generic version. The patent on Merck's Zocor expires today.

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